# The nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Xiamen China from 2011 to 2020: a population-based linkage study

## TL;DR

This study examines the trends in nasopharyngeal carcinoma incidence and mortality in Xiamen, China, from 2011 to 2020.

## Contribution

The study provides population-based insights into NPC trends in Xiamen, highlighting a decline in incidence.

## Key findings

- NPC incidence in Xiamen decreased with an average annual percent change of −5.48%.
- The 5-year relative survival rate was 55.98%.
- Mortality trends showed an insignificant decline.

## Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not common in most parts of the world but is particularly prevalent in southern China. This study analyzed NPC incidence, mortality, years of life lost (YLL), and survival rates in Xiamen from 2011 to 2020.

This study mainly utilized data from the Xiamen City Cancer Registry, and cancer follow-up cohort, covering the period from 2011 to 2020. Crude and age-standardized incidence, mortality, YLL, and survival rates, as well as their trends were analyzed using annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), stratified by sex and residency status.

From 2011 to 2020, Xiamen reported 996 new NPC cases (733 males, 263 females) and 513 deaths (396 males, 117 females). Age-standardized incidence, mortality, and YLL rates were 3.58/100,000, 1.83/100,000, and 65.10/100,000, respectively. The AAPC in incidence and mortality rates of NPC was − 5.48% (95% CI: −9.25, −1.54, P < 0.05) and − 0.82% (95% CI: −6.01, 4.65, P > 0.05), respectively. The 5-year age-standardized relative survival rate was 55.98% (95%CI: 52.08, 60.17).

Over the recent decade, a consistent decline in the incidence of NPC has been observed, accompanied an insignificant decreasing mortality trend in Xiamen. Future efforts could focus on enhancing prevention, screening, and treatment strategies to potentially reinforcing these positive trends.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-025-15394-0.